Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/932906

OpenURL Link
Title
Harnessing regulatory T cells to suppress asthma: from potential to therapy
Author/Creator
Thorburn, Alison N.;  Hansbro, Philip M.
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
Description
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an essential role in maintaining the homeostatic balance of immune responses. Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways that is driven by dysregulated immune responses toward normally innocuous antigens. Individuals with asthma have fewer and less functional Tregs, which may lead to uncontrolled effector cell responses and promote proasthmatic responses of T helper type 2, T helper 17, natural killer T, antigenpresenting, and B cells. Tregs have the capacity to either directly or indirectly suppress these responses. Hence, the induced expansion of functional Tregs in predisposed or individuals with asthma is a potential approach for the prevention and treatment of asthma. Infection by a number of micro-organisms has been associated with reduced prevalence of asthma, and many infectious agents have been shown to induce Tregs and reduce allergic airways disease in mouse models. The translation of the regulatory and therapeutic properties of infectious agents for use in asthma requires the identification of key modulatory components and the development and trial of effective immunoregulatory therapies. Further translational and clinical research is required for the induction of Tregs to be harnessed as a therapeutic strategy for asthma.
Relation
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Vol. 43, Issue 5, p. 511-519
Publisher Link
http://dx.doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2009-0342TR
Date
2010
Publisher
American Thoracic Society
Keyword(s)
asthma;  regulatory T cell;  forkhead box p3;  immunoregulatory therapy
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/932906
Identifier
ISSN:1044-1549
Reviewed
Reviewed
2 Visitors 3 Hits 0 Downloads
Save/E-mail Citation
Citation Format
E-mail Address
Subject
"American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology"
 
OR